Earth electrode



Nov. 25, 1930,

s. w. BORDEN l' 'EARTH ELEcTRopE Filed June 15;,l 1928 Patented Nov. 25, 1930 UNITED STATES PATENT ori-ICE STEPHEN 1V. BORDEN, OF SUMMIT, NEW JERSEY EARTH ELECTRODE V.Application led .Tune 16,

'i0 ing the electrode, and second, to provide facilities whereby the chemicals, particularly when used in the form of crystals, may be properly dissolved, and applied to thel electrode automatically when water is applied to l5 that portion of the electrode assembly which is flush with the ground and especially when the water consists of rain falling on the earth immediately surrounding the electrode.

The use of a drive point having exit holes 20 for the solution and the use of a cable attaching device.v having an opening therein connecting with the interior of the electrode, are not elements of the present invention although shown in the drawings, such elements being covered by my application Serial Number 106,397, for electrical ground anodes, filed May 8, 1926, Patent No. 1,737,562, dated Dec. 3, 1929.

The invention comprises the devices and combinations of devices described and claimed hereinafter in connection with the drawings and the equivalents thereof.

Fig. 1 is a plan view of a complete assembled electrode.

Fig. 2 is a front elevation partly in cross section.

Fig. 3 is a vertical cross section of a coupling including a water retaining ring.

Fig. l is a vertical cross section of a coupling without the retaining ring.

Fig. 5 is a cross-section on line 55 of Fig. 4.

In the drawings like parts are indicated by like symbols.

The electrode is so positioned in the earth that rain falling on the surrounding ground will flow by gravity to the cover of the electrode, where it passes through the holes H, Fig. 1, into the receiving chamber RC; when 1928. Serial No. 286,045.

t-he chamber is filled to the level of the discharge outlet DO, the water, which has now become a chemical solution due to the presence of chemical crystals in the receptacle, overflows into the discharge outlet and thence flows through the pipe P into the body of the electrode. l/Vhen the water ceases to flow through the openings H, the receiving chamber RC does not become empty but remains A full of water up to the level of the top of the discharge out-let, so that there is ample opportunity for slowly dissolving chemicals to form saturated solutions between rains or other applications of water to the electrode.

After the solution has been delivered to the inside of the electrode means must be provided for its exit to the surrounding earth. l/Vhen the earth portion of the electrode consists of pipes joined by means of couplings, the couplings may be constructed as shown in Figs. 3 and ll. Referring to Fig. 3, the shoulder S serves two purposes. First, it provides a solid seat for the pipes, in order that the strain of driving may not come upon the pipe threads, and second, it provides a spacer between the two pipes in which depressions are formed as shown at D, Fig. 5, which `depressions lead into eXit holes, as EH. and which will `not be closedwhen the pipe is screwed into place.

As the solution travels down the interior surface of the pipe it falls upon the shoulder S, and flows into the depressions D thence passes out through the exit holes FH into the surrounding earth. y When the amount of solution is limited it is preferable that as much as possible of the solution be passed through the openings in the highest coupling, Asince the solution has a tendency to descend on the outside of the electrode, and in order to insure this, I sometimes add a water retaining Vring as R in Fig. 3, which insures that the solution flowing down the inside surface of the pipe will pass out through the holes in the highest coupling. Vhen the solution is supplied at a rate in excess of the flow capacity of the eXit holes in the first coupling, the channel between the ring and the pipe fills up thus causing the solution to overflow crystals the solution, after passing through' the ring and pass downward into the lower sections of the electrode. Since the entire electrode is generally filled with chemical the larger sizes, such as 2 diameter, are fre-lV` quently driven to depths of 50 and 60 feet.

With such depths and with the electrode completely filled with liquid there is a consider able hydrostatic pressure atV the lower por-u tions of the electrode with the result that the solution, as well as small chemical crystals, are forced out into the earth, even when the earth is of a relatively compact nature, and

a saturation ofthe lsurrounding soil is obtained in this manner which it is practically impossible to obtain by applying the solution to the soil at or near the surface of the ground and outside the pipe. Furthermore, the maximum density of impregnation will exist immediately adjacent the pipe, which isthe location where it will operate most effectively in reducing the resistance of the electrode since the resistance varies inversely as the square of the distance from the electrode.

When only a relatively shallow strata of earth is available for the installation .of earth electrodes, it becomes desirable to use electrode bodies of relatively large .area such bodies taking the form of small tanks or receptacles in the ground, these usually having a pipe connection to the surface of the ground. Electrodes of this type are frequently filled with chemicals and perforations areprovided to permit the solution to pass out into the surrounding earth. My receptacle, co-operating with holes in the cover of the enclosing chamber, may be used to advantage in connection with this type of electrode. No coupling is involved in such a combination.

I claim: v j

1. In a pipe coupling Vfor earth electrodes; the improvementconsisting of a centrally` located internal shoulder, of suflicientwidth to form a seat for the pipe, saidv seathaving aV depression in its surface Vand openings through the coupling wall connecting the vde pression with the outside ofy theV coupling.

y2. In an earth electrode containing two or more sections of pipe joined bycouplings; the improvement consisting of a coupling po-V the improvementconsisting of a coupling po` sitioned between the ends of the joined sections, said coupling having aninternal shoulder, of sufiicient width to form seats for the pipes said seats havingv depressions in their surfaces and openings through the coupling wall connecting the depressions with the outside'of theV coupling, and a receptacle surrounding the upper end of the electrode andY having a discharge outlet overflowing into the interior of theelectrode.

4. In an earth electrode containing two or more sections of pipe, joined by a coupling or couplings the improvement consisting of a coupling positioned between the ends of the joined sections, said coupling having an internal shoulder of sui'iicient width to form seats vfor the pipes said seats having depressions in their surfaces and openings through the cou` pling wall connecting'the depressions with the outside of the coupling, and a receptacle ment consisting of a receptacle surrounding the upper end of the electrode the receptacie having' a discharge outlet overfiowing into the interior of the electrode and a covered enclosing chamber surrounding the receptacle the chamber cover having openings therein positioned above Vand in line with the receptacleand co-opeiating therewith.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification.

STEPHEN W. BOBDEN.

sitioned between the ends of the joined sections, said coupling having an internal shoulder of suihcient width to form seats for the pipes said seats having depressions in their surfaces and openingsthrough the coupling wall connecting the depressions with the outside of the coupling.

3. In an earth electrode containing two or more sections of pipe, joined by couplings; 

